Dutch reveal Romans' row to progress

Dutch archaeologists work on the Roman barge discovered in the town of Woerden.
Picture: Reuters

Dutch archaeologists have discovered a Roman cargo ship equipped with oars, a unique find which they say explains how imperial Rome defended its northern frontiers.

The barge, dating from about AD100, was excavated in the Dutch town of Woerden, once the location of the Roman military settlement Castellum Laurium on the banks of the Rhine.

The flat-bottomed boat was manned by at least 12 rowers. The oars would have allowed the Romans to navigate strong currents back to the German Eiffel region from where it brought rocks to strengthen forts along the frontier.

Until now, archaeologists and historians had thought the Romans could only sail downstream with their barge-like cargo vessels. According to that theory, the boat, about 30 metres long, would be dismantled and the wood used as building material in conjunction with its cargo of rocks.

Archaeologist Wouter Vos said: "This is the first time we have evidence that these barges could sail back upstream."

The cargo vessels, about 30 of which have been discovered in north-western Europe, date back to an era when the Romans were improving their fortifications along the northern borders of their empire.

The marshy estuary of the Rhine lacked rocks so these had to be imported by boat.